ASSOCIATION OF GARDENS TRUSTS

 

CONSERVATION AND PLANNING REPORT

BUSINESS MEETING 7th September 2007

 

Since our last report in March 2007 the following have been progressed:

 

* HERITAGE PROTECTION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY - DCMS WHITE PAPER

Available from www.culture.gov.uk

Sally’s notes on the contents concerning parks and gardens were sent to CGT Conservation Contacts and Kate attended the Heritage Link workshop.  With help from Sally, Kate, Barbara Moth (Cheshire GT), David Sekers (Dorset GT), Beryl Lott (Lincs GT via Steffie) and Sandra Nicholson (Essex GT), Val wrote a fairly detailed response to the three questions posed and added further points.  The response has been circulated to CGTs.  The AGT also signed up to the Heritage Link response.  Heritage Link was pleased with the AGT response.  We are particularly concerned about funding heritage protection and concluded AGT response with ‘ to provide for the proposals in the White Paper it must be prerequisite that government provides in full the necessary resources. Without such undertakings protection of our heritage will fail.’

 

*Conservation Principles Second Draft - published by EH. Val and Kate attended workshops.  We commented with some general points and to the fourteen questions.  We felt concerned re Q11 para 102 where we consider that the emphasis was the wrong way round.  In our opinion public interests should be reconciled with conservation and not conservation reconciled with other public interests.

 

* PPS3 (Housing) – Tony Hurrell (Hampshire GT) has written a useful synopsis ‘Encourage your Local Authority to save gardens from unnecessary development’ which has gone on the AGT website with an introduction from Val and Sally.  

 

* Gardens and Brownfield – Following on from Greg Clark MP, Caroline Spelman MP was due to have the second reading of her bill on 15 June but this was postponed and is now due on 10 October 2007. In May we sent a letter regarding Spelman’s bill and the new PPS3 to CGTs and also the notes on the issue, suggesting support for the bill. Kate and Val were invited to the House of Commons by Greg Clark on 17 April to further discuss the issue – see the latest ‘Eyecatcher. 

 

* Planning White Paper – Sally attended the HL Planning Workshop on 12 July.  The AGT is signing up to the Heritage Link response and we also intend to write with comments.

 

* Allotments - AGT was alerted by Charles Boot of Bucks GT that allotments in the Lea Valley at Hackney were threatened by the Olympics development.  Our thanks to Steffie for drafting a letter for the Association to send to Lord Coe. In his reply, Lord Coe said that there was to be a new commitment to replace the allotments after the Olympics.  The AGT must hold him to this.

 

* PPS1 & PPS3 - Yorkshire Historic Environment Forum have provided quotes from PPS1 and PPS3 that will be useful in responding to planning matters. These have been circulated to CGTs.

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* English Heritage, Enabling Development and the conservation of heritage assets, Policy Statement, Practical Guide to Assessment, Consultation Draft – We will be responding to this up-dated guidance.  The closing date is 19 October 2007 and we would appreciate any comments.  An electronic copy is on www.english-heritage.org.uk/enablingdevelopment or contact Rebecca Fraser tel: 01223 582 768

 

* Paradise Preserved – English Heritage publication (Jan 2007) on assessment, evaluation, conservation and management of historic cemeteries.  Available from 0870 333 1181 or e-mail: customers@english-heritage.org.uk Product Code: 51104

 

 *Heritage Funding Directory has been put on the Heritage Link website. [www. Heritagelink.org.uk]

 

Other comments – Heritage Protection Review – do you feel it would be useful to have an explanatory event for the CGTs fairly soon? 

Val and Sally